Chapter Text
"You must return, My love— your journey is yet to be finished.
You've became a sinful soul once again, let this be once more a way to cleanse yourself."
Back here. In the purgatory He created.
Although He didn't really had bad intentions, this place was a sick nightmare no one would like to ever dream of.
With trembling hands and shaky breath, John held onto his flashlight— a sensation that grounded him and stopped him from drifting away into sinful thoughts. It was clear he has sinned, this was already getting old. Nonetheless, a priest like John always had to firmly hold onto his faith, even with the cruel treatment of God. It was his punishment after all. After all those lines of red that blended into his arms. After countless of nights crying, bursting out at everything and everyone at his house.
God I feel pathetic.
His gaze fixated on the door. With no light to accompany him more than that flashlight. Fear creeped through his veins, a parasite that threatened to eat him completely nonstop.
It was so easy to just stay there, do absolutely nothing for the rest of his miserable life. So simple to not go through that door and start running and fighting his own sins. He didn't gain anything by coming back to a life that constantly hated him. A life that he was so disgusted of.
So many lectures of telling John to love himself and always fight for the better. At the end, they're just that; lectures that he will never apply to his life— it was difficult to do it. It made him feel less; because for others, this seemed like an easy job. Yet to him felt like pushing the heaviest rock up a mountain.
Do I really have to?
Is it really worth it fighting for a life that I do not desire?
Does God actually love me or am I a mere entretain for Him?
I wish I could DIE forever instead of He bringing me back here.
Please God I-
John's mind went blank. All of his pessimistic thoughts dissapearing into nothing. Fear always could win in situations where you feel like you're dying, doesn't it?
-"We don't have time to be crouched down looking pathetic now."
The voice of the man sounded harsh, like a command rather than someone wanting to help. It startled John, which mad him want to snap back towards him. Out of pure awkwardness, he remained silent.
-"Hey. I already told ya; stand up."- He yanked John's arm to force him onto his feet, an angered expression across his features. The crosses that acted as pupils on the man's eyes stared directly at John— judging the man like if he committed a severe crime. He raised up his fist as if to threaten, though it didn't mean much.
-"I'm sincerely sorry.. "
John finally spoke, out of fear rather than anything else. He held the flashlight tighter like if that was the only thing anchoring him to reality. He didn't wanted to get hit, it was too early to be fighting with someone in this place.
-"Y-You were sent here as well?"- John couldn't help but stammer, the nerves getting the best out of him. I mean, who wouldn't get scared if some random, jacked guy raised their fist at them? Better not to anger.
-"Well, for what else I would be here?"- The man let go of John, a huff escaping his nose to let him know he felt indignated. -"Don't act like you are the only one forced upon this hell."
Silence fell over both for what it felt like an eternity— slowly making them realize it was better time to start moving to the first saferoom. Before John could even fix his robes, the other man was already going through the door and running at incredibly speed. Not wanting to be caught by Carnation, he tried to catch up to the man.
John was huffing and struggling— it's been a while since he was running over and over through these corridors. It gave him a sense of deja vu. Somewhat, it made him admire the man running in front of him, sliding so easily through doors and jumping obstacles with ease. What an envy he felt.
Of course, since this was the first saferoom, there wasn't much threat rather than hiding from carnation.
Meanwhile in the safespot— waiting for carnation to pass by, John stared at the man. The small dots of his pupils were a bit to intense in staring him, analyzing him. Holding tightly onto his crucifix, John continued foward.
His steps were unmeasured and clumsy, trying his best to not trip over any brick or object that decorated the rooms. It was already difficult to keep watch of the man in front of him.
John panted softly, standing just above the saferoom as the other man slipped in. He tried to enter more carefully— his flashlight slipping from his hands as he did.
Just as quickly as John grabbed it from the ground, he quickly straightened up.
-"..I don't think we introduced ourselves, do we?"- John cleared his throat to catch the man's attention, though his nerves had calmed down as he wasn't a threat— at least just not yet.
-"You must call me John. John Grace."- As a form of respect and manners, he bowed his head towards the man— clearly expecting the same treatment.
-"Just call me Reprieve."- He didn't really meet the reverence, but still acknowledged it quietly.
-"Don't die too soon here. Or do, I don't really care. As long as one of us remains alive, I'm sure God will have no problem in taking 'em back."- Reprieve turned his gaze away, his back facing John as he stared at the armored door— seemingly having no interest in the notes left instructing on how to survive the next entity.
-"I... I will try. I'm just not used to.. you know, having people around?"- John walked closer to the notes, picking them up to inspect them closer.
Don't stare
Those were the only instructions left by God's writing.
-"Same. Though this place is different than what I am used to."- Reprieve let out a small hum, his eyes scanning the metallic walls before going back to the door— John being not much of his interest.
-"I don't think I can beat those damn entities. I mean, does He allow you to do that?"- He took a few steps back, finally peeking a look at the note John was holding.
-"I'm pretty sure He doesn't allow such.."- John straightened up, handing the note to Reprieve without much care. His attitude suddenly shifting to a more cheerful one.
He forced a smile and pressed the palm of his left hand on his chest. "But worry not, Brother in Christ. If you need my guidance, I will always be here to help."
That might not be my best first impression...
Reprieve gave a weird look at John, the crosses (the ones that acted as pupils) shifted to look directly at John in the eye. The black of his scalera suddenly making contrast with John's white ones.
-"Not to be a partypooper. But this ain't no place to be smiling like that."- He frowned before turning back to the note. That entity looked like an easy job— even if he never saw it before.
John sighed, his back hunching a little. His hands came down neatly to fold on his lap— being mindful of his robes. -"My apologies."- The smile fully disappeared from his face. Clearly the attempt to maybe cheer things up— even when it didn't quite reach his eyes, didn't actually work.
Reprieve did notice, but he didn't bat an eye nor seemed to care about it, mindlessly throwing the note somewhere in the small saferoom. -"..Just rest if you wanna."